In 1901, aged just seven, tiny contortionist May Zinga was given away to Wirth Brothers Circus by her desperate mother. Imagine Miss May’s horror when the first thing the Wirths did was cut off all her long hair. Poor May had lost both her family and her crowning glory! But this feisty, talented and determined little girl did not give up. Despite many setbacks, including a horrific accident, she kept fighting to fulfil her dream of becoming the best bareback rider in the world, performing the same dangerous acrobatic feats as male riders––only better!

This fourth title in Stephanie Owen Reeder’s award-winning Heritage Heroes series retells the remarkable true story of equestrienne May Wirth, while providing historical insights into life in an Australian circus at the beginning of the twentieth century.